Man admonished by court for calling Muslim shopkeeper a “P***” over 2p

The Daily Record reports on the conviction of a man on a charge of racially aggravated breach of the peace after he called a Muslim shopkeeper “a P***” in a dispute over 2p.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the case against Jaspal Bharya, 38, in connection with an incident at the Mini Market store on Seedhill Road, in Paisley on November 26 2015.

The court heard that Bharya had gone into the store for purchases but was 2p short of the total cost. He told shopkeeper Muhammad Qamer to let him off for the difference saying “You’ve short changed me 10 pence in the past, so you can let me off with this.”

In the dispute that followed, Mr Bharya called Mr Qamer “a P***”.

A member of the public who witnessed the exchange then alerted the police who detained Mr Bharya.

CCTV footage played to the court “showed the two men in a heated exchange”, according to the paper.

Nadine Dormer, defending Bharya, told the court that Mr Bharya experienced a momentary loss of control and that her client was remorseful about the incident.

She said: “This was an unfortunate incident where Mr Bharya thought he should be let off with two pence because he had been previously short changed. He accepts that he should not have said what he did.

“He spent a night in custody following his arrest.”

Sheriff James Spy let Mr Bharya off with a warning about future conduct.